Planning Commission

   

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Heidt at 7:30 p.m. A quorum was present.

 

PRESENT

 

Chairman John Heidt; Commissioners Kathy Amerman, Gary Goodenow, Craig Johnston, Timothy Juidici, William Serchak, Karen Worrell, Stanley Zasuwa

 

ABSENT

 

Commissioner Larry Keef

 

ALSO PRESENT

 

Zoning Administrator, Randy Sapelak; Planning Consultant, Nick Lomako; DDA Director, Ann Barnette

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Regular Meeting January 15, 2009

 

PC-09-08 Amerman moved, Zasuwa seconded, to accept the minutes of the Regular Planning Commission meeting of January 15, 2009 as presented. Motion CARRIED

 

Special Meeting February 26, 2009

 

PC-09-09 Zasuwa moved, Amerman seconded, to accept the minutes of the Special Planning Commission meeting of February 26, 2009 as amended:

Page 2 – 1, PRESENT, add Commissioner Stanley Zasuwa Motion CARRIED

 

CALL TO PUBLIC

 

DDA Director, Ann Barnette was present on behalf of the MBA, Milford Business Association, who are hoping to have a Farmers Market this year that would be held on Thursday afternoons from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. May through October 29, 2009. She explained that Jeff Hutton, owner of Milford Auto, gave permission to use his parking lot on Main Street for the event. Ms. Barnette said she is aware that approval is needed by the Zoning Board of Appeals for a temporary use variance and is only seeking a recommendation to the ZBA by the Planning Commission.

 

The Planning Commissioners and Ms. Barnette discussed parking, the definition of a farmers market, and that some food preparation may take place on site but would be regulated by Oakland County Health Division. Products sold would primarily be fresh produce and flowers. There would be no conflict with the summer concerts. The vendors would be responsible for their set-up and tear down.

 

Ms. Barnette said if for some reason they were unable to use the parking lot they would seek Council approval to use Liberty Street between Main St. and Union.

 

PC-09-10 Amerman moved, Goodenow seconded, to recommend to ZBA the concept of an open air farmers market to be held at 334 N. Main, with the caveat that the Committee will provide responses to all conditions set forth in Sec. 94-422. Motion CARRIED

 

Michael Poplars, 140 W. Summit, was present and said that the property needs to be rezoned to allow him to open a small nursery. He said it was currently zoned as a PUD, Planned Unit Development. He said he has intentions of cleaning up the parking lot and front of the building to sell hanging baskets and small trees. Mr. Poplars said he would like to have material to sell on the property by 4/1/09.

 

Mr. Sapelak explained that Mr. Poplars would need to go before Council first with his request and Council would direct Planning Commission as to how to move forward. Doing anything on the property other than what a PUD would allow would violate the approved use of the property.

 

Mr. Lomako said it was his opinion that Council could just rescind the current PUD zoning and the property would revert back to its previous zoning.

 

Planning Commission recommended Mr. Poplars go before Council at their next meeting with his request.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

Recreational Vehicle Storage, Sec. 94-344 (b)

 

Commissioner Goodenow reported that he would work on the language amendment and have something for the next meeting for the Commissioners to review.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

SP-09-01, Green, 16-10-301-007, Vacant Property on GM Road and S. Milford Rd., Between S. Milford Road and Marlene, Proposed Gravel Parking Lot

 

Don Green, 1100 Atlantic, was present to answer any questions from the Commissioners. He said they are proposing to spread more lime stone to create a 9” base per Village specifications. Mr. Green said that DPS Director, Robert Calley, would be overseeing the project.

 

The Commissioners and Mr. Green discussed signage, trash receptacles, signage to enforce hours of operation and landscaping to screen the roadway and residential area from traffic lights.

 

Mr. Green said that the hours of operation would be the same as Kensington Metropark and that enforcement would be done by the Village Police Department as well as Kensington Metropark.

 

Commissioner Serchak suggested instead of landscaped screening, the parking spaces should be relocated to keep headlight glare from the roadway and residents. He also suggested adding bumper blocks or grading the road to prevent visitors from parking outside the actual parking lot.

 

Mr. Green said that because of the topography of the land he didn’t believe it would be possible to reposition the parking spaces. He explained where the parking lot is currently proposed, the land is flat and will require less grading and less material and equipment to be brought in. After the gravel is laid the perimeter will be seeded so the grass will grow back around the lot.

 

Chairman Heidt suggested that the parking lot be rotated and not be parallel to the roadway to allow for less intrusion of headlights on the roadway.

 

Mr. Green said he would be agreeable to rotating the parking lot if administrative approval by the Building Official could be given.

 

PC-09-11 Goodenow moved, Johnston seconded, to approve SP-09-01, parking lot location subject to administrative review and that the trash containers be provided and shown on a revised plan.

 

DISCUSSION

 

Chairman Heidt asked about amending the motion to include additional berming or bumpers as suggested by Commissioner Serchak and to also include rotating the parking lot to be perpendicular to the road.

 

Mr. Lomako suggested that the applicant make an attempt to re-orient the lot to minimize headlight glare on the roadway to the maximum extent practical.

 

PC-09-12 Amerman moved, Goodenow seconded, to amend PC-09-11, to state that the applicant should attempt to re-orient the parking lot to minimize headlight intrusion on to the roadway and also to include additional barriers at the end of the parking lot to prevent parking outside of the lot. Motion CARRIED

 

PC-09-11 Motion CARRIED

 

SP-09-02, Green, 16-10-431-003, 325 W. Huron, Proposed Addition & Renovation to Fire Station

 

Stacy Peterson and Steven Flickema from CDPA Architects, 26600 Telegraph, Southfield, and Mr. Green were present to answer any questions from the Commissioners.

 

The Commissioners, Mr. Peterson, Mr. Flickema, Mr. Green and Mr. Lomako reviewed the letter provided by Mr. Lomako dated 3/5/09 (on file at Village office).

 

In addition, they discussed ADA requirements and proposed site improvements over utilities.

 

Mr. Green stated that at this time a traffic light is not necessary.

 

PC-09-13 Amerman moved, Serchak seconded, to approve SP-09-02, Fire Station and Renovation, based on the 14 conditions noted below, and in addition applicant must comply with the requirements as listed in the letter from DPS Director, Robert Calley, dated 2/27/09 (on file at Village office).

1. Sheet SD-2 should be revised to provide a note to reference that all lighting will comply with Sec. 94-356 of the zoning ordinance.

2. The parking lot is to be lighted, with such lighting to be subject to administrative approval.

3. Planning Commission approval of the curbing in lieu of wheel bumper blocks in accordance with Sec. 94-340, (11), provided the proposed retaining wall is protected by curbing having a horizontal length of not less than 2’.

4. Installation of dense landscaping at the top of the retaining wall where the elevation is 30” or more in height.

5. The installation of a sidewalk along Washington St.

6. Amending note 11 on sheet L-101, to specify that all site landscaping will be irrigated by an underground system in accordance with Sec. 94-351, (c), 8.

7. Revision of the parking lot design to ensure that all off street parking spaces and maneuvering lanes are ordinance compliant and meet the dimensional requirements of Sec. 94-340, (2).

8. All storm water collection grates are to be ADA compliant.

9. Planning Commission approval of the Washington St. driveway width being greater than 36’.

10. The retaining wall to consist of stacked masonry units, having a color which is compatible with the primary building.

11. The generator (intended to be located outside, near the southwest corner of the building) to be shown on Sheet SD1.

12. Revised site plan to indicate that there will be no outdoor storage of trash. Trash storage to be contained inside the primary building within a 123 square foot room identified on Sheet SPA-1 as “outdoor storage”.

13. Building elevations to be built in accordance with the design presented on Sheet SPA-3.

14. Village Council approval of the 20’ driveway separation distance (Huron Street driveway) from the easterly property line (instead of the required 25’) as permitted by Sec. 94-340, (6).

 

DISCUSSION

 

Commissioner Goodenow noted that Planning Commission is going against their normal policy of not granting approval on a site plan when many corrections are needed. He said however, in this particular case he believes it makes sense for Planning Commission to grant conditional approval.

 

PC-09-13 Motion CARRIED

 

PC-09-14 Worrell moved, Zasuwa seconded, to have a special meeting on 4/2/09, for the purpose of a Public Hearing to consider approval of a special land use permit per Sec. 94-388. Motion CARRIED

 

PC-09-15 Goodenow moved, Amerman seconded, to acknowledge that the conditional approval of SP-09-02, is subject to conditional use approval to be considered on April 2, 2009 as specified in Sec. 94-388.Motion CARRIED

 

CONSULTANT COMMENTS

 

Mr. Lomako reported that he would be attending a wind and energy workshop and will report back to Planning Commission if any changes to the ordinance are necessary.

 

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

 

Commissioner Goodenow said that at the last joint Planning Commission meeting with the Township of Milford, it was decided that each Commission should select representatives to continue any necessary work on the Master Plan project.

 

Chairman Heidt, and Commissioners Worrell and Goodenow agreed to be representatives for the Village Planning Commission.

 

ADJOURN

 

The meeting adjourned at 10:06 p.m.

 

Nancy Scott, CMC

Milford Village Deputy Clerk